STEPHANIE I was afraid. I had looked around for her, everywhere a kid could be. I met with the authorities, and everyone began to look for Anna. I felt like crying because I didn't know what to do. What would Edward say? How would he react to hearing his daughter was missing? The first time I had a day out with her and this happened? My skin was covered in goosebumps, shivering from fear. Poor Anna must be so scared.The authorities were not making any progress in finding her, so I picked up my phone to call the police and Edward when I remembered that we hadn't checked the ice cream shop area. I knew that Anna wasn't a child to wander off like that because of something she likes but never say never. I ran to the stall to find a young ice cream man. “Please sir have you seen a child about this tall” I gestured with my hand “Petite and dark hair” he stared at me as if trying to remember, “She's wearing pink and blue swimwear”“Oh I saw her leave with her dad after getting strawberr
STEPHANIE Edward didn't like the name Maison or the statement that came after. “What?” he asked, fury already lingering in his eyes. I regret telling him. “When we were in the water park for a moment we couldn't find Anna, I wanted to call you but I found her with Maison behind an ice cream shop” “What?” Edward sprang to his feet, picking up his phone, and I followed. He was dialing a number. He was calling the cops. “He didn't hurt her, I swear” “But this is a threat, it's high time I get this over and done with.” He was frustrated, running his fingers through his hair. “What the fuck does he want from me?”“It is me,” I said quietly. “He said I should have a divorce and come back to him or he'll make my life miserable. “Why didn't you tell me this?” “Because it's my fault, it's my problem, I was the one who dated him. I didn't want to drag you into this” “You're my wife, Stephanie, we fucking shared a vow”, his voice rumbled. “Under a contract,” I said. I needed to know wh
STEPHANIE I bled till morning earning just a tossed sanitary pad and towel from Maison. Was I really pregnant for Edward, or was it just an early period? Thinking about it, I wasn't sure I had my period last month, I didn't track it, and I was always having unprotected sex with Edward. The pain was unbearable but I couldn't do anything about it. I didn't have my phone with me or anything. After cleaning myself up, I lay on the bed twirling in pain. I was hurt. If I knew I had Edward's child, I would have done anything to keep it. I felt bad that I didn't even know I was pregnant. How can a woman not know she's with a child? I felt weak because I'd lost lots of blood, I had become pale and sickly. The sun had come up properly, when I saw the door open and Maison walked in. He stared at me for a moment before saying, “A doctor is here for you, you'll be fine in minutes” Immediately, what came across my mind was to tell the doctor that I had been kidnapped and he should help, but t
EDWARD I sat in front of the police detective who was asking me diverse questions about Stephanie. They found her car, crashed without a sign of her in it. She had an accident, but what happened after? I almost cried when I got a sighting of the vehicle. The night she went missing passed by quickly without me catching a glimpse of sleep or rest. We had contacted all hospitals by that side in case she was admitted to a hospital but none took in a victim of an accident. Her mother had run over to my place, struck with worry, I assured her that I'd look for Stephanie. We didn't gain any good news that night, all security footage didn't capture that particular place where she had an accident. My thoughts ran to Maison, but I didn't want to believe he had anything to do with Stephanie yet. Emma was asked a few questions and she told the detective that Stephanie had been going to her parents sometimes and coming back before I returned. She had left yesterday, saying she would come back
STEPHANIE I had no appetite, looking at the varieties Maison displayed on the table. The pain had reduced and the bleeding too. I laid in bed and began to feel uncomfortable. I got up and sat on the floor. It was night with no sign of a way to escape or anyone looking for me. I was starving and very weak. I looked at the table filled with food. Maison had brought food and clothes earlier. I knew I needed food for strength, but I didn't have the appetite to eat. I got up and sat by the table.I heard key sounds behind the door, and soon, the door was opened, Maison appeared in the doorway, looking intimidating. He sat in front of me, watching me. “You know you don't have to be locked in here for long, all you have to do is marry me and divorce your husband” “Where did you learn to become a monster, Maison? I once loved you, you were a caring guy with a good heart. Even when I found out you were in a gang, I didn't leave you because you were the best man I had been with, but then you
STEPHANIE Maison didn't mind my screams and cries. He was after pleasuring himself. He took off my underwear and opened my legs. He held me in a place and I could not move. He took off his shirt and unbuckled his belt, revealing his dick, which was all up and red burning with desire. “Maison, please don't do this”, I begged, but the look in his eyes showed that he was not willing to let go of me. “I'm hurt” I mumbled. He was leaning into me, and I shut my eyes, trying to subdue the pain I was about to feel.But instead, I felt his grip on me reduced, and his weight on me lifted. I opened my eyes slowly. He had gotten up and adjusted his trousers. I quickly got up and dressed myself too. He picked up his shirt without turning back, and he left. I was grateful he didn't rape me, at least he has a conscience. I got up and dressed properly. For a moment I thought he was going to have sex with me. I would have really counted him a monster truly if he did. He had been obsessed with me,
EDWARD We tracked the phone and went back to the house we first went in search of Maison. We met a young boy this time. Sam asked to go in and we sat with him. “We traced a call from three days ago to this place” Sam looked at his hand, “It's this phone you're having now. Tell me why did you call the lady that day?” he began questioning the boy. “I did not,” The boy said turning away. “You called her before the accident and said nothing, just misplaced words” “I did nothing” he repeated. I just watched them. If Sam cannot get something out of this kid, I'll have to strangle him and get something from him myself. “It is your voice kid” Sam took out a recorder and played the recorded voice note. “Are you still going to deny it?” He kept quiet. I was exhausted “Hey how old are you?” I asked him and he answered.“I just turned eighteen” “Then I hope you know that if you are checked and by chance have anything to do with the disappearance of that young lady you'll no longer go to
STEPHANIE Maison met me curled up on the living room sofa when he came down in the morning. I couldn't find a way to escape and I couldn't sleep, I just lay there till morning. I was lost in thoughts but his cold fingers brought me back to reality. He placed his hands on my thigh “What are you doing down here?” He asked me. “Came down yesterday begging for an escape” the lady with the dark hair I met last night said. She laughed “She didn't know that there's no way out” I stared at Maison. He wasn't drunk anymore. He sat down beside me. His voice was gentle. “How long am I going to keep begging you to stay with me” I wasn't one to answer that question, so I got on my feet and wanted to walk away, but he grabbed my hand and pulled me down into him. “You don't walk away from me when I'm talking to you”, he said as I struggled to break free; I was sitting on his legs now. When I had gotten exhausted and decided to stay put, he used that opportunity to begin to touch me. “You shoul
STEPHANIE Edward got home, still recuperating from his injury, I had to move back in to take care of him. He couldn't use his hand properly or his body to do any harsh activities. I needed to be by his side. Anna was so happy I returned, they had told her I went on a trip. She kept on asking what I got her and I had to ask Emma to go get her the latest doll she had always wanted. Emma wrapped it up and I gave it to her as a gift. As a workaholic that Edward was, staying home wasn't funny for him. He still tried to work from home but I always reminded him that he should rest just like the doctor had suggested. I met him slumped on the couch in our room watching sports news. He looked exhausted. I laughed “You look like you're about to die because they asked you to stay home and recover” “Trust me now I'm getting an experience of what you felt while staying home all through that period” I smiled and sat beside him. “Have you taken a shower?” “Not yet. I feel so lazy right now,” h
STEPHANIE “GET YOUR FUCKING HANDS OFF MY WIFE!!” Edwards' voice rumbled and thundered down the street, and immediately, Maison let go of me. “So you brought your husband huh?” He threw me a very dirty look. “I thought I had told you to come alone. Now you're really going to get it dirty when we get home” He dug his hand into his back pocket and brought out a dagger before lunging into Edward, and they struggled with who would hit whom. I wasn't expecting to see Edward. How did he know what was going on and came? For some reason, I'm glad he came, but for another, I'm not; what if he gets stabbed? They gave themselves an equal share of beatings until Maison cut Edward on the arm. I just screamed where I was. Edward was trying to hit the knife out of his hand but he proceeded to pierce him with the knife in his abdomen. I felt like fainting. Edward managed to hit the knife out of his hands and held him to the ground, it didn't take a second before Sam and his team came and grabbed
STEPHANIE I ignored my mother who had seen me and Edward outside. I walked upstairs avoiding her gaze. I was ashamed of myself and also angry. I had ruined Edwards' life. I locked my door, slumped on the floor, and cried more. Thinking about it, how could Edward even want me back after knowing I slept with another man? What kind of a lover was he? I've never seen someone love me this bad in my life. I needed to do something concerning all these. I cannot sit back and watch Maison soil Edwards's name. I don't mind dying because of this. I needed to make things right. I should save the one who loves me more than the way I love him. I thought about it for some days before concluding. I picked out my phone and called Maison hoping he would pick up. He did, and I said. “You wanted me right? Now you can have me” ‘What are you saying?’ He clearly was pleased with those words. “But please don't ruin Edwards's name, please, I beg you, Maison. You can have me as you want.”‘Is it now you
EDWARD Stephanie was wearing his clothes, looking haggard, she had slept over, did she just have sex with him? Her mom had told me that she had gone to see me yesterday. But I never saw her, I just guessed she would be here, and here she was, in another man's clothes. “What are you doing here?” I asked her. “What are you doing here?” She asked me back. “You have no right to be here” She began walking down the stairs. “I do, you're fucking just leaving a man's apartment”“Just the way you fucking left a woman's apartment before coming here to pretend to beg” She was angry. “What?” I didn't understand her statement. She laughed “Edward you're funny” “I don't understand” She walked up to me, and I could smell tobacco and earth on her, it was unusual. She always smelt fresh and flowery. “Let me tell you something, you and I are never getting back together. Never” Perhaps did she hear about me and Camille but no one would tell her. “You cannot say that” “Edward you cannot stand h
STEPHANIE Gabriel kissed me roughly as if he had been craving for my body just like I was craving for a body. His hands caressed every inch of my body. I didn't mind that he was all muddy and could stain my clothes, I wanted his hands all over me. He hit me against the wall. Getting rid of my shirt first. Sucking my neck and chest. I ran my fingers through his soft locks. I was dripping wet, I had forgotten my pain. I just imagined that I was doing everything with Edward. He placed me on a console, taking his shirt off. He studied me before leaning in to kiss me slowly. He carried me into his workroom, to his pottery station, and laid me on the muddy floor gently. I stared at him. “What are you doing?” He smirked. “Just relax” He began to take off my clothes, and soon I was naked before him. “You're a total work of art” I just watched him. He took off his clothes before walking towards a heap of mud. He grabbed a bowl of muddy water and poured some on himself. I was surprised,
STEPHANIE I was into the kiss, my hands travelling to Gabriel's neck, when I realised that this wasn't right. I quickly pulled away to his surprise. “I'm so sorry. I can't do this” I said, getting up. “I'm not even supposed to be here” What was wrong with me? How could I kiss someone whom it has not been a week since I met? I was married, I shouldn't appear cheap before Gabriel. “Stephanie,” he called me. I refused to turn for fear that what would happen next might be more intense. “Stephanie please wait” I turned around. “I'm really sorry” “It's not your fault. It is my fault. I don't know what's wrong with me” I ran my fingers through my hair. “I have feelings for someone else” Gabriel stared at me with concern in his eyes. “It's normal to feel something for someone and at the same time feel something for another” “That’s not true” “You shouldn't deny your heart what it wants and your body what it craves,” He said softly. “I don't know you, Gabriel. I can't say I feel someth
STEPHANIE I didn't feel bad as Edward saw me on Gabriel's back. I felt happy so he would know that I could be special to any other man. I slid down his back and he watched me with concern. “Are you sure, I shouldn't take you inside?” “I have to speak to that man,” I gestured to Edward. I faced him properly. “Thank you so much, I would have been in lots of trouble without you. I'll come over later” Gabriel smiled. “I'll be expecting you” As he turned to leave, he gave Edward a quick look before walking away. I frowned when I turned to Edward. I limp slowly to where he is. “What are you doing here?” “Who was that guy?” “That's none of your business” Seriously, that's the first question Edward would ask me?He looked at my legs “What happened to you?” “Nothing much, I sprained my ankle” “Then you should get a doctor immediately” I stared at him with a frown. “What are you doing here?”He was silent for a while before walking up to me and sweeping me off the ground. He carried me
EDWARD I studied Camille as she said those words. How can this woman be so ruthless? I don't even know when she began loving me. “When did this all begin” “Hmm?” “When did you begin having a thing for me, I've known us to be best friends?” She smiled “Remember when you punched Raymond into a pool, that's when it all started”I shifted my head to the side. This was years ago in junior high school. We attended Raymond's birthday party, and when he saw her, he began teasing her for being so small. She began to cry. When I saw what Raymond did to her, I was offended and dashed to him, punching him and he fell into the pool behind. It was a very long time ago, I wasn't expecting it to be something that would make someone fall for someone. Plus she was my best friend. “Camille, we were kids,” I told her. “Well not anymore and you can keep to your word” “I cannot marry you” I was a bit offended. “I'm not asking you to marry me, I just want you as my man” “That cheating on Stephanie
EDWARD My bed felt cold without Stephanie beside me. The past few days have been a hard one for me. I couldn't concentrate well at work or home. I then realised the big hole in my life If Stephanie was not in it. The only time I got to hear her voice was when she called Anna to say hello. I had gone and tried apologising but she wouldn't listen. I wanted to give her space but I cannot live without her. I couldn't sleep and decided to go apologise this time forcing her to hear me out. Reaching her doorstep, I alighted only to find her on another man's back. They were talking, and she seemed relaxed and happy. Who was this guy that could make my woman happy? I was furious. Stephanie didn't know that everything I had done, I was doing it for her. It was getting to the busiest time of the year for me. There was a pile of work to do and lots of places to go. Sometimes it gets so busy that I would arrive home when Stephanie was asleep. I wanted to spend more time with her, especially